Arkansaw Bear: A Tale of Fanciful Adventure Read online

  CHAPTER XI

  THE ROAD HOME

  "Going back to Arkansaw as fast as we can go-- Never mind the winter time--never mind the snow, For the weather's not so chilly as the Louisiana law, And we'll feel a good deal safer in the Ar--kan--saw."

  IT had happened in this way. The afternoon before Christmas had come andthe little boy and the Bear had been talking over a Christmas dinner forthe next day.

  "Bosephus," Horatio had said, "we must have something extra. I shouldlike a real old-fashioned dinner. One such as I used to have; but, ofcourse, that is all over now." And there was an untamed, regretful lookin his eyes.

  "Ratio," said Bo, "we have got a lot of money--nearly two hundreddollars. We can afford to have something good. I will buy a duck and aturkey and maybe some pies. We'll take a holiday and eat from morningtill night if we feel like it."

  The Bear smiled at this thought and touched the strings of the violin.

  "Oh, we'll buy a tender turkey, and we'll buy a youthful duck, And some pies, perhaps, and cookies, and some doughnuts, just for luck, And we'll take our Christmas dinner where the balmy breezes stray, And we'll spread it in the sunshine and we'll eat--all--day."

  Suddenly he paused in his singing and listened. They were coming outinto an open space and there was a sound of a voice speaking. Somebodywas talking in a foreign language that Bo did not understand, but theBear trembled with eagerness.

  "Bo," he whispered, "that's Italian. That's the way my first teachertalked. The one that abused me--and died."

  The Bear licked out his tongue fiercely at this memory and pushedforward into the open, the little boy following. As they stepped outwhere they could see, Bosephus uttered an exclamation and Horatio asnort of surprise. By the roadside sat a dark-browed, villainous-lookingItalian and before him stood a miserable half-starved bear cub, which hewas trying to teach. He would speak a few words to it and then beat itfiercely with a heavy stick. The little bear cowered and trembled andcould not obey. Horatio gave a low dangerous growl as Bo held him back.The Italian turned and saw them.

  "What are you beating that cub for?" asked Bo, sternly.

  The Italian looked at him evilly.

  "Maka him grow an' dance an' playa fid, lika yo' bear," he said,sullenly. "Soa he maka da mun'."

  "That won't do it. You can teach him better with kindness. Throw thatstick away. Aren't you ashamed of yourself."

  "Minda yo' own biz," was the insolent reply.

  The little boy saw that it would not be safe to stay there any longer.The cub was whining pitifully and Horatio was becoming furious. Heturned away, the Bear following reluctantly. When they had gone perhapsa half a mile Horatio paused.

  "Let's camp here," he said. "This is a nice place and I'm tired."

  Bosephus was tired, too. The day before Christmas with its merrypreparation had been a big day among the plantations and the friends hadreaped a harvest.

  "All right, Ratio," he said, and they made preparations for the night,though it was still quite early.

  "MAKA HIM GROW AN' DANCE AN' PLAY A 'FID'."]

  "Bo," said the Bear, reflectively, "Christmas always reminds me ofwhen I was a little cub like that poor little fellow we saw back yonder.I was a Christmas present--by accident."

  "A Christmas present by accident! How was that?"

  "It was this way. I was always brave and adventurous, as you know. Myfolks lived in a very large tree and were all asleep for the winterexcept me. I stayed awake so as to run away and see the world. Well, Istarted out and I travelled and I travelled. It was all woods and I lostmy way. By and by I got very tired and climbed up into a thick evergreentree to rest. I suppose I went to sleep and some men who were outhunting for a Christmas tree must have picked out mine and tied thelimbs together tight with cords and cut it down. Then I suppose theymust have carried me home and set the tree up in its place and untiedthe cords, for the first I knew I was tumbling out on to a carpet in abig room, and a lot of children were screaming and running in everydirection. I was bigger and some fatter than that cub we saw with theItalian--poor little fellow.

  "I'd like to talk to that villain about five minutes alone," continuedHoratio, grimly. "I'm sure I could interest him. I'd tell him about theman that used to beat me, and I might give him an imitation of whathappened to him," and the big fellow rose and walked back and forth inexcitement.

  "But go on with your story, Ratio; what happened to you after you fellout of the Christmas tree?"

  "Oh! the children tamed me and fed me till I got so big they were afraidof me, and then I ate up some young pigs and a calf and went away."

  "You ran away, you mean. What happened then?"

  "Well, I went quite a distance and fell in with a circus. I learned todance there and stayed with them a while. But one day the young ibexcame in to see me and they couldn't find anything of him after thatexcept his horns, and seemed suspicious of me, so I went away again."

  "Oh, Ratio!"

  "Yes; I travelled and changed about a good deal till by and by I fell inwith the Italian who promised to teach me to play the violin, and he didteach me some, as you know, but he wasn't kind to me, so I--I woremourning for him a while, and went away again. Then I met up with you,and you taught me the second part of our tune, and we went intopartnership and I reformed, and we've been together ever since. We'vebeen in some pretty close places together, Bosephus, but I've alwaysmanaged to pull us through safely, and you have behaved very nobly, too,at times, Bosephus--very nobly, indeed."

  "Are you sure you have reformed, Horatio?"

  Horatio swung the violin to his shoulder and drew the bow across thestrings. Then he sang softly:--

  Music]

  "Oh, there's some folks say a nigger won't steal, But I caught one in my corn-fiel'.

  Music]

  And there's other folks say that a Bear will tame, But I wouldn't trust him with my----"

  he hesitated, and then, with a final flourish,

  "with my money all the same."

  The little boy laughed. The Bear seemed to have forgotten the cruelItalian and was in his usual good humor.

  "I think I can trust you, Horatio; I'm not a bit afraid of you."

  "Bo," said Ratio, speaking suddenly, "speaking of Christmas trees, weought to have one. I saw a beautiful one up the stream yonder. I thinkI'll go and get it, if you'll look after the supper while I'm gone."

  "Why, yes, Horatio, only don't be long about it."

  Horatio struck the violin with a long vigorous sweep.

  Music]

  "Oh, we'll have a tree for Christmas in this Louisiana isthmus, Where the orange trees are waving and the jasmines are in bloom;

  Music]

  And I'll have a Christmas dinner, if I don't I am a sinner, And I'll eat it if it sends me to my doom--doom--doom."

  Bo laughed again. He had never seen Horatio in a better humor.

  "If you eat too much pie it may send you to your doom--doom--doom," hesaid. "Hurry back, now, with that tree. You can pull it up by the rootsand we'll plant it again here. Then it will keep right on growing."

  The bear set out up the stream and the boy busied himself with buildinga fire and taking out of a sack a lot of food that had been given themby the planters during the afternoon. He spread this on the leaves andmoss and then sat down and gazed into the bright blaze. It was pleasantand warm and he was quite tired. After a while he wondered sleepily whythe Bear didn't come back, and concluded he was having a hard timepulling up the tree. Then he began thinking of all the adventures theyhad had together and of the little cub bear and the cruel Italian.

  "I was tempted to let Horatio at him," he thought. "A man like thatshould be beaten until he couldn't stand. That poor little creature! Howwistfully he looked at us. He kept whining--perhaps he was telling Ratiosomething."

  The little boy's head nodded forward now and then and presently heslept. He slept soundly and the moments flew by unheeded
. He was havinga long dream about old man Todd and the girls and the two candy hearts,when suddenly there arose close at hand such a commotion, such amingling of excited language, fierce snarls and crashing of brush thatthe little boy leaped to his feet wildly.

  "Ratio!" he shouted. "Ratio! where are you?"

  The only answer was the redoubled fury of the furious uproar, which Bonow located at the edge of the road but a few feet away. He tore throughthe brush hastily in that direction. As he reached the spot the turmoilceased and he heard the sound of running feet. Dashing through into theroad he beheld a strange sight. A half-naked man was disappearing overthe hill just beyond, and Horatio, holding some rags of clothing in onehand and the paw of the little bear in the other, was looking after himhungrily, as if about to pursue. Before him lay the Christmas tree badlybroken and bruised.

  "Ratio!" exclaimed Bo. "What have you been doing?"

  The Bear looked at Bo sheepishly.

  "I went for the Christmas tree," he said, meekly, "and just as I wascoming back the Italian man came along, and he was beating this littlechap, and so I tried the Christmas tree on him to see how he liked it.Then we got into an argument, and when he went away he left the cub withus and didn't take all of his clothing."

  The little boy reflected a moment.

  "I hope, Horatio," he said, gravely, "you did not mean to break youragreement about, you know--about dinners."

  "I didn't, Bo; honest, I didn't. I wouldn't touch that fellow if I wasstarving. But I did pretty nearly break his neck, Bo, and I'm glad ofit!"

  GOING BACK TO ARKANSAW.]

  "Ratio," said Bo, solemnly, "it's very wrong, I suppose; very wrong,indeed; but I'm glad, too. Only we've got to postpone that Christmasdinner. That fellow will be back here to-night with officers, and we'vehad all the law we want. We start for Arkansaw in five minutes. A biteof supper and then right about! ready! march!"

  And this was the reason Horatio and Bosephus and the little cub bearwere travelling swiftly northward in spite of the winter weather thatwas not yet over. The cub was small and weak and Horatio, who loved himand sometimes called him "little brother," often carried him. They gaveno performances, but only pushed forward, mile after mile, chantingsolemnly:--

  "Going back to Arkansaw as fast as we can go-- Never mind the winter time and never mind the snow, For the weather's not so chilly as the Louisiana law, And we'll feel a good deal safer in the Ar--kan--saw."

  HORATIO WAS LOOKING AT HIM HUNGRILY.]

  CHAPTER XII

  THE BEAR COLONY AT LAST. THE PARTING OF BOSEPHUS AND HORATIO

  "Oh, the wind blows fair and the snow is gone In the Arkansaw when the spring comes on. Oh, the sun shines warm and the wind blows fair, For the boy and the cub and the Old--Black--Bear."

  SO sang Bosephus and Horatio as they sat side by side in the doorway ofa deserted lumberman's cabin in the depths of an Arkansaw forest. Thecub rescued from the brutal Italian and brought with them on their hastyjourney out of Louisiana, stood a few feet away watching them intently.Now and then he made an awkward attempt at dancing, which causedBosephus and Horatio to stop their music and laugh. He had grown fat andsaucy with good treatment, and seemed to enjoy the amusement he caused.At a little distance behind him, some seated and some standing, and allenjoying the entertainment, were seven other bears of various sizes. Thecolony so long planned by Horatio and Bosephus was established.

  The long journey out of Louisiana had been made rapidly and with nodelays. Though midwinter when begun, the weather had been beautiful atthe start, and there had been few storms and but little cold since. Thecub had gradually confided his story to Horatio, who loved him andcontinued to call him affectionately "little brother." He had beencaptured in a very deep woods, he said, by hunters, who sold him to theItalian. He did not know where these woods were, but as the friendscrossed the Louisiana line and entered lower Arkansaw he grew more andmore excited every day, for he declared these were so like his nativewoods that he could almost hear his mother's voice crooning the eveninglullaby. Soon after, they came one evening upon a deserted lumberman'scamp and took possession of the one cabin that still remained. It was agood shelter and there was a stream with fine fish in it close at hand.But when the friends awoke next morning the little bear was gone.

  They were very sorry, for they had grown much attached to the littlechap and he had seemed to be fond of them also. It was very lonely inthe deep forest without him. Horatio sighed.

  "He didn't appreciate us, Bo," he said, sadly. "He's gone back to be awild bear. He never got the taste of men--tastes, I mean, and I supposethese woods made him homesick. They are like my old woods, too, and Iget homesick sometimes--even now." Then the boy and the Bear went to thebrook to fish and the day passed gloomily.

  But that night, when Bo had built a fire in the big fireplace whichalmost filled one end of the cabin, and was cooking the fish, there camea muffled scratching sound at the door. Horatio sprang to his feetinstantly.

  "That's Cub," he said, excitedly.

  The boy ran to the door and opened it. Sure enough, the little cub stoodbefore him, and out of the darkness behind gleamed seven other pairs ofeyes. The boy was brave, but as he saw that row of fiery orbs he felthis flesh creep and his hair began to prickle.

  "Horatio!" he called, softly, "come quick."

  THE POOR BEAR GAVE WAY COMPLETELY.]

  The Bear was already by his side, and a moment later with the cubstepped out into the night. Then Bosephus heard low growls followed by astrange commotion, which he at first took to be the sound of fighting.Suddenly Horatio ran to him in great excitement.

  "Bo, Bo!" he exclaimed, "it's my family! and, oh, Bosephus, it's Cub'sfamily, too! We're really brothers, and we didn't know it!" Then he ranback into the dark and presently returned with the cub and the sevenother bears, following. The newcomers stared and blinked at the littleboy as they entered the lighted cabin and then withdrew to a darkercorner, where they sat silently regarding everything that passed, likestrangers from the country. The cub sat with them and whispered softly,in the bear tongue, and Horatio now and then went over, too, and nodoubt told them marvellous tales of his strange adventures. Late thatnight all lay down to sleep--the little boy in the arms of his faithfulfriend.

  And so the Bear Colony had begun, even sooner than Bo and Ratio hadexpected, and they had given up all notion of travelling any further.The lumber camp was deserted for good by the woodcutters, for thelargest trees had been cut out and taken away long before. The cabin washeadquarters--Bosephus was president, Horatio prime minister, and thecub, because of his adventures and slight educational advancement, waschief assistant. Early spring was upon the land, and the woods werebeginning to be sweet with song and blossom. Bosephus was almost afraidat first that, with the native woods and the renewal of home ties,Horatio might return more or less to his savage instincts, but he becamegentler and more docile than ever. His place as prime minister and chiefinstructor made him realize his advancement and the importance of goodbehavior. He was grave and dignified, and about the fire in the evening,played the violin with an air of skill and superiority that was veryimpressive. Bosephus at first enjoyed it all immensely. The bears wereobedient and submissive, and were gradually learning to understand hislanguage. He had more money than he would ever need and was lord of allhe surveyed.

  But gradually there came a change. He grew tired of seeing only theblack faces and shining eyes of his subjects and of hearing only thesinging of bees and birds. At first he did not realize what was thematter. Then it came to him at last that this life of the forest waspalling upon him and that, like the cub, he yearned for his ownkind--the faces of men.

  One morning he divided up the money into two equal parts and slipped outto where Horatio was sunning himself and playing softly before thecabin.

  "Horatio," he said, tenderly, "I have divided up the money. Here is yourhalf. You have been the best friend I ever had and it breaks my heart toleave you, but I can
't live away from my own race any longer. I am goingback to Louisiana, to the planter who told me to come back and he wouldsend me to school and college and make a man of me," and then the littleboy suddenly broke down and fell weeping into his companion's arms.

  For some moments Horatio could not speak. Then he spoke, sobbing betweenevery word.

  "Bo--Bo--you--you're--not--not going to--to leave me! Oh, Bo!" and thepoor Bear gave way completely and wept on the little boy's shoulder.They were all alone, as the others had gone out together for a walk. Atlast Horatio put the boy gently from him and took up his violin. Hebegan to play very softly and sang in a breaking voice:--

  "Oh, he's going away to leave me to the Lou'siana shore, And I'll never see my darling, my Bosephus, any more; He's divided up the money, and he's going far away, And my poor old heart is breaking but he--will--not--stay. We have battled with the weather--we have faced the world together-- Never caring why or whether--never minding when or where-- But he says we now must sever--happy days are done forever, For Bosephus and the fiddle and the Old--Black--Bear!"

  FELL WEEPING INTO HIS COMPANION'S ARMS.]

  An hour later Bo was wending his way southward through the sweet springwoods alone. In his inner breast pocket was stored every dollar thefriends had earned together.

  "I will never need it now, Bo," Horatio had said at parting, "and youwill need a great many times as much. Take it and sometimes think ofyour far off faithful Ratio." And then, after one long embrace, they hadparted. And now the little boy was trying to keep up courage to carryout what he had undertaken. At every turn in the path he was tempted toreturn and throw himself in Horatio's arms. But he pressed on, hoping toarrive at some sort of habitation for the night, which he did not liketo pass alone in the woods.

  "Poor old Ratio," he thought. "He will be happier with his own peopleafter a while. And perhaps he will really civilize them." He turned andcast one long look in the direction of the colony which he could nolonger see. Then facing about again he hurried forward. About a milefurther on he paused at a little brook for a drink. He was bending overthe water when he heard a sudden crashing in the bushes behind him. Hestarted up instantly and seized a heavy stick that lay close at hand.Nearer and nearer came the tearing through the brush, like some heavyanimal in fierce chase. The boy stepped out of the path to let thecreature pass, and then, all at once, he gave a cry of joy and surprise.Headlong out of the bushes, stumbling and rolling at his feet, withtears streaming from his eyes and violin under his arm, was Horatio.

  "Bo, Bo!" he cried. "I couldn't stand it. I'm going with you. That kindplanter will give me a place to stay, I know, and maybe if he sends youto college he'll let me go, too. I could play for the college boys, Bo,and help pay your way. Don't send me back, Bo! Don't send me back!"

  Bo embraced him silently.

  "Why, of course not, Ratio," he said at last, "but I thought you wantedto have a colony of your own people."

  "I did, Bo, but I have turned it over to Cub. He can take care of it.Like you, Bo, I have been civilized too long to live away from men! And,besides, Bo, you need me to protect you." Horatio recovered his dignityat this point and continued, gravely, "You are brave and noble,Bosephus, but you need some one near you who is ever ready to face anydanger. Let us sing now, Bosephus, as we travel onward."

  And with a joyful scrape of the strings and a sweet burst of melody thefriends set their faces once more to the South.

  Music]

  "Oh, there was a little boy and his name was Bo, Went out into the woods when the moon was low.

  Music]

  And he met an Old Bear who was hungry for a snack, And the folks are still waiting for Bosephus to come back.

  Music]

  "For the boy became the teacher of this kind and gentle creature, Who was faithful in his friendship and was watchful in his care,

  Music]

  And they travelled on forever and they'll never, never sever, Bosephus and the fiddle and the Old--Black--Bear."

  "And they traveled on forever"]

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Notes:

  Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

  Page 20, "TO" changed to "BO" (BO was awake first)

  Page 66, two lines of text were transposed. The original read:

  of them----" down here are mighty fond of bear meat, and there's such a lot